Polar Medal

A press release from the Prime Minister of Canada office was received today - 

“Prime Minister Stephen Harper today welcomed the announcement of the creation of a Canadian Polar Medal. As Sovereign and font of all honours, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has given her approval to this addition to the Canadian Honours System.

The Polar Medal will recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Canadian North across a diverse range of endeavours.

The design of the new medal was released earlier today by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada. The medal program will be managed by the Chancellery of Honours as part of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, which is responsible for administering the Canadian Honours System”

The Polar Medal will celebrate Canada’s Northern heritage and recognize persons who render extraordinary services in the polar regions and Canada's North.

The call for nominations will start fall 2015

The website is http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=16120&lan=eng

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-22-june-2015.html

 It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada

"Demolish the Deficit” Fund is starting to move

As I reported on May 30, 2015 blog post at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/05/is-there-another-canadian-genealogy.html, I commented on the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Demolish the Deficit fundraiser. At the time, I said I would keep my eye on it, and there has been positive movement.

Nearly half of the 2015 goal of $12,000 - $6,526 has been raised so far!

So there is hope that the society can raise the rest of the money, and return to it’s former self as an vibrant Canadian genealogical society.

If you would like to contribute, you can contact them at their website at http://www.saskgenealogy.com/

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-22-june-2015.html

 It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada

National Aboriginal Day – June 21st

National Aboriginal Day is a day to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

In support of National Aboriginal Day, visitors to Fundy National Park and Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick are invited to meet local Aboriginal artists and learn more about New Brunswick's Aboriginal culture and heritage. Artists will be on-site between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

In Alberta, there will be Blackfoot elders who will tell stories about the plains buffalo culture, and there will be drumming and dancing, guided facility tours, a live display of Alberta Birds of Prey, traditional hand game demonstrations, and aboriginal food sampling.

There are events all across the county today, and to see what else is available, go to http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100013248/1100100013249

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-15-june-2015.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada
 

The International Gathering of the Clans, 2015 will be held in Nova Scotia

I couldn’t think of any better place than to hold the International Gathering of the Clans in Nova Scotia – New Scotland!

 

It will take place from July the 1^st to July 25^th , and there will be events in Pugwash, New Glasgow, Antigonish, Yarmouth, and Halifax.

 

July 1st will begin with a flag raising ceremony at the Pugwash Gathering of the Clans, and the Official Opening will be held in Halifax on July 3rd at the Grand Parade.

The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Nova Scotia will be running during the first week with acts from all over the world.

June 30 – July 7 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo will be held in Halifax.

July 1 Gathering of the Clans and Festival There will be flag-raising and first event of the 10th International Gathering of the Clans. This will ne held in Pugwash.

July 3 Flag-raisingFlag-raising Halifax City Hall, 11:30 a.m Reception courtesy Clan Lamont & Clan Stewart/Stuart. This will be held in Halifax.

 

July 5 Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan St. Matthew’s United Church, Barrington St., Halifax
Sponsored by The Scots and the FSCNS. Reception to follow. This will be held in Halifax.

 

July 5 – 12 Antigonish Highland Games.

 

July 15-19 Festival of Tartans & Highland Games New Glasgow.

 

July 25 Closing of the 10th International Gathering to be held at the Yarmouth Seafest Festival, Yarmoth, Nova Scotia.

 

The offical site for the International Gathering of the Clans, 2015 is http://www.cassoc.ca/frameset.htm

 

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-15-june-2015.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada

 

 

Canadian Heritage is looking for Canada Day volunteers

Canadian Heritage is looking for Canada Day volunteers.

As a volunteer, you could be handing out Canadian flags, managing crowds, helping people with special needs, and serving as information officers during the July 1 festivities at Parliament Hill and Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa and Jacques-Cartier Park across the Parliament Hill in Gatineau next to the Canadian Museum of History.

Each year more than 500 volunteers help with Canada Day celebrations in the National Capital Region.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Canadian Heritage Volunteer Centre at 819-956-2626 or benevoles.volunteers@pch.gc.ca.

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-15-june-2015.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada

Extra news items

 Here are some news items which have come across the desk this week -

If you want to keep abreast of the OGS Toronto Conference news, you can subscribe to their news email at http://www.ogs.on.ca/conference/well-done-all-aboard-for-2016/

The Conference will be held June 3 to 5th, 2016 at the Toronto’s International Plaza Hotel next to the Toronto Airport.





One good thing about summer is that it brings picnics!

The Brant County Branch is celebrating the summertime by holding a BBQ & STRAWBERRY FUND RAISER on Friday June 26, 2015 at 5:30 pm at Smokey Hollow Estates, Leisure Park.

Tickets are $15 per person.

Bring a Friend! Come & Enjoy!

Their website is ay http://www.ogs.on.ca/brant/

 

Save Our Lighthouses is the latest effort by Canadian to save our lighthouses.

The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act (HLPA) came into force in May 2010, and the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) promptly declared more than 400 active lighthouses to be surplus.

If you are interested in helping to save these lighthouses, then you should read http://lighthouses.ontariohistory.ca/index.html

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-15-june-2015.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada

FamilySearch Update: Newfoundland, Vital Records, 1840-1949

FamilySearch has made additions to the index and images of births, delayed registrations of births, marriages, and deaths of Newfoundland 1840-1942.

363,845 records have been indexed, with images added or upgraded as of 10 June 2015

Newfoundland, including the area of Labrador, became a province of Canada in 1949. Official registration of births, marriages, and deaths began in 1891.

Until 1948, most vital records were copies of church records.

Official registration of births, marriages, and deaths did not occur in Newfoundland until 1891.

The website is at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1790939

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-15-june-2015.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

LAC Update: Digitization of First World War Service Files

Library and Archives Canada has busy digitizing the service files of the First World War veterans. 

They sent out this press release -

As of today, 162,570 of 640,000 files are available online via our database at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/search.aspx. Library and Archives Canada is digitizing the service files systematically, from box 1 to box 10686, which roughly corresponds to alphabetical order.

Please note that over the years, the content of some boxes has had to be moved and, you might find that the file you want, with a surname that is supposed to have been digitized, is now located in another box that has not yet been digitized.

The latest digitized box is #3655, which corresponds to the surname Gore.

Please check the database regularly for new additions and if you still have questions after checking the database, you may contact us directly at 1-866-578-7777 for more assistance.

Their website is at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/canadian-expeditionary-force.aspx

Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-15-june-2015.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

70th Anniversary, the Saskatchewan Archives

 

In celebration of their 70th Anniversary, the Saskatchewan Archives has prepared a new online exhibit which outlines the creation and development of their institution.

The exhibit includes many original photographs and documents that highlight the fascinating story of the Saskatchewan Archives.

You can visit their on site exhibit at http://www.saskarchives.com/Timeline

There is just tons of pictures to see, and documents to pursue.

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

 

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-08-june-2014.html

 

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

 

The OGS Blog is one you should read

Do you ever read the Ontario Genealogical Society blog?

Over the past month, someone has posted blogs such as Family Stories - Truth or Fiction?, Connection between Official Records, “Men of the Cloth”-Tracking Records for Preachers, Pastors and Priests”, and Researching Your Canadian World War 1 Soldier Ancestor- Part 1 and 2.

These posts provide a good overview of the subjects, although they do not give the nitty-gritty of the records available. You will have to go to the sites mentioned to get this, but if you want a good understanding of the basics of the record, you can get that here.

So if you have Ontario answers, be sure to keep the blog page in your research toolkit so you can access it anytime you wish.

The blog site is http://www.ogs.on.ca/ogs_blog.php

The website is https://www.ogs.on.ca/

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Last Day to take advantage of this offer!!!

Need help finding your ELUSIVE Canadian ancestors???

 

As a nod of the hat to the Ontario Genealogical Conference being held in Barrie, Ontario from May 29 to May 31, may we offer a month-long discount on our research and consultation services of 15% (ends 11 June at midnight).

 

Just go to Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services website at www.elrs.biz, or send an email with the subject "special" to genealogyresearch@aol.com to see how I can help you find that elusive Canadian ancestor!

 

Research Tip! While you are in Ottawa, if you have ancestors who lived here, a good place to check is the Ottawa Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/
=======================================================================

Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

 

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-08-june-2014.html

 

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

Ancestry launches family history DNA testing service in Canada TODAY!

This press release was just received -

TORONTO (June 9, 2015) – Ancestry, the world’s largest family history resource, today launched AncestryDNA in Canada. AncestryDNA allows individuals to learn about their genetic heritage and discover new family connections in Canada and around the world.

When coupled with Ancestry’s database of more than 16 billion historical records, AncestryDNA will enable family history enthusiasts and novices alike to discover even more about their own past, including the ability to find entire new cousin matches around the world.

“Historical records on Ancestry.ca provide an insight into one’s recent past, but usually go around 200-300 years, so it’s incredibly exciting to be able to offer DNA testing that takes your family history experience back many hundreds and even thousands of years,” said Christopher Labrecque, Country Manager for Ancestry Canada. “AncestryDNA enables users to learn more than ever about where they came from and discover new family lines and relatives. It really is the ultimate family history experience.”

AncestryDNA details the breakdown of one’s ethnic origins, predicting the likely locations of a person’s ancestors across 26 worldwide populations, providing a glimpse into one’s ancestral past that goes back to a time before historical records began to be kept.

The service also introduces users to new family members through DNA member matches which identifies unknown relatives pulled from more than 850,000 people who have previously taken the test. Many users can expect to be connected with 3rd and 4th cousins, allowing them to further grow their family trees and discover family members they may not have known existed.

In a recent survey, more than three-quarters of Canadians stated they would consider having their DNA tested to discover more about where their ancestors came from. Many said they know very little about their own family history, with 42 per cent indicating that they do not know where their grandparents were born, and 30 per cent stating they do not know where their ancestors lived before coming to Canada.

How AncestryDNA Works

The test uses microarray-based autosomal DNA testing to look at more than 700,000 locations across an individual’s entire genome through a simple saliva sample. The AncestryDNA approach provides a much more detailed look at one’s family history than other existing Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA tests that only look at specific branches of a person’s family tree.

AncestryDNA kits are now available for purchase for $149 plus shipping at http://dna.ancestry.ca/


















 
  

Are your ancestors from Sweden?

Do you want to know who your first Swedish ancestor was and when he or she left Sweden and arrived in Canada? Are you curious about your Swedish origins?

If so, on the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) website, there is a great place to begin your research. Here you will find a page dedicated to genealogical research on http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/history-ethnic-cultural/Pages/swedish.aspx

This page provides you with historical information, archival documents and published material from the Library and Archives Canada collection, as well as links to other websites and institutions.

If your ancestor came to Canada between 1865 and 1935, you might find his or her name on the http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/passenger-lists/Pages/introduction.aspx

Additionally, I listened to Dear Myrt’s Wacky Wednesday last week and she talked to Jason Olsen from MyHeritage.com about Swedish Lutheran Church Records. This is a census substitute called the Household Examination Books.

The website for the video is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lATwqjQ1HT4

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-08-june-2014.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since April 23, 2012.

Breaking the Ice 2015: HMS Erebus Revealed

You can now see and experience what the divers saw and experienced last spring when they found the Erebus, one of the ships in Franklin's Expeditions of the North West Passage. There is now an exhibit called  HMS Erebus Revealed and it is on the http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/culture/franklin/franklin2015.aspx website.

These artifacts have been lost to the Arctic Sea for nearly 160 years, and now they are available to us online to see.

Here is a photo album on the site, a dive diary, and little bits on information, like the Franklin Expedition carried 4,000 kilos of chocolate which could be put into water for as a drink of hot or cold chocolate!

Enjoy the time that you spend at the exhibit. I read all of it. and found it so interesting! 

Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-01-june-2015.html 

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

Is the Never Forgotten National Momument going to be built?

 

I had heard of this before, and I am wondering if you have heard of the statue and park that is to be built on Green Cove in Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia.

The statue – Never Forgotten National Monument – will be an eight foot statue in memory of the 114,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders who gave their lives overseas in war and they never returned home.

Friends of Green Cove Cape Breton Highlands National Park says the park needs to be protected. They say is was never meant to house a statue such as this, and it should be moved somewhere else.

So what do you think? The project is going ahead, and it will be built on the land where it is intended to be built. It has already been approved by Parks Canada.

If you oppose the building if the park and statue, there is an online petition for you to sign at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/in-opposition-to-the-nfnmf-monument

The website of the Never Forgotten National Monument is http://www.nfnm.ca/

The Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/NeverForgottenNationalMemorial/posts/894974587208603

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

 

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-01-june-2015.html 

 

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

Did your Canadian ancestors originally come from Denmark?

Do you want to know who your first Danish ancestor was and when he or she left Denmark and arrived in Canada?

If so, the Library and Archives Canada can fill you in on the history and reason why the Danish people came to this country.

You can go to http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/history-ethnic-cultural/Pages/danish.aspx to get the historical information, archival documents and published material to help you.

If your ancestor came to Canada between 1865 and 1935, you might find his or her name on the passenger lists at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/passenger-lists/Pages/introduction.aspx

By the way, the oldest Danish community in Canada is New Denmark, New Brunswick, first inhabited by Danish immigrants in 1872.

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

 

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-01-june-2015.html 

 

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

Keffer Writing Contest Winners

At the Ontario Genealogical Society Conference (OGS) held in Barrie this year, the winners were annouced for the Keffer Writing Contest this year, and they are -

First prize - Joyce H. Munro for her essay How Ker-Burns-Weld- Thompson Got His Name.

Second prize - Stephen Young for his essay The Disguised Origin of George R. Young Jr.

Third prize - D. Russell Morton for his essay Fill in the Blank.

Fourth prize - James Bangtson for his essay The Loyalist Connection Revised.

These essays will be published in Families, the journal of the OGS.

The website of the OGS is https://www.ogs.on.ca/

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Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

 

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-01-june-2015.html 

 

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

Another online resource in Canada

The McCulloch Heritage Centre in Pictou, Nova Scotia is starting to put their photographs and collections of historical significance to family history, with emphasis on the arrival of the Scots in 1773, online. The page is titled Find Your Scottish Roots. 

If you go to their site at http://www.mccullochcentre.ca/, and log in, you will see where they have started already to put on wills, photos, and there is lots more to come. Census records, diaries, photographs, wills, deeds and newspapers will be added in the future.

To go to the McCulloch Heritage Centre itself, their website is at https://mccullochhouse.novascotia.ca/about-mcculloch-house/mcculloch-heritage-centre

Happy Researching!

 

Canada Day lineup of performers

With the theme Strong. Proud. Free. Canadian Heritage will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Sir John A. Macdonald and the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag on Canada Day – July 1st.

There will also be nods to the "Year of Sport" in Canada and the Franklin expedition, which uncovered in the Arctic one of Sir John Franklin's lost ships from 1846.

Here is the Canada Day lineup so far-

• Reggae-inspired band -- Magic!
• Quebec pop singer and songwriter -- Marc Dupré
• Country singer -- Gord Bamford
• Rockers -- Jonas and the Massive Attraction
• Pop up-and-comer -- Francesco Yates
• Pop singer and Star Académie finalist -- Andee
• Iqaluit alt-band -- The Jerry Cans
• Elite high school marching band from Calgary -- The Bishop Grandin Marching Ghosts
• Winnipeg singer/songwriter -- Cassidy Mann
• Pop and hip-hop artist -- Karim Ouellet

There will also be programming at Major's Hill Park in Ottawa and Jacques-Cartier Park in gatineau right across the river.

The day ends with the traditional fireworks around 10 p.m. on Parliament Hill.

They say that 350,000 people take in the festivities on Canada Day and one third are tourists.

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Need help finding your ELUSIVE Canadian ancestors???

 

As a nod of the hat to the Ontario Genealogical Conference being held in Barrie, Ontario from May 29 to May 31, may we offer a month-long discount on our research and consultation services of 15% (ends 11 June at midnight).

 

Just go to Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services website at www.elrs.biz, or send an email with the subject "special" to genealogyresearch@aol.com to see how I can help you find that elusive Canadian ancestor!

 

Research Tip! While you are in Ottawa, if you have ancestors who lived here, a good place to check is the Ottawa Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society at http://ogsottawa.on.ca/
=======================================================================

Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

 

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-01-june-2015.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

 

Ancestry.com redesigns its site

Although they say in their opening letter, which explains the changes that they have made to their site, it is supposed to be only open to American subscribers, but I found it was open to me – a Canadian.

 

So I went to take a look.

 

And I really like it.

 

They have adjusted the color on the search page, made it more appealing, and it seems to be cleaner than the previous search landing page.

 

I would give them a passing grade on this.

Go to www.ancestry.com 

Apparently they will redesign the Canadian site at www.ancestry.ca in the near future. 

Women of Digby County, 1950

 

Nova Scotia is a province of many different faces, and the Women of Digby County, 1950 is a virtual exhibit presented by the Nova Scotis Archives. 

 

It was first developed as a traditional exhibit entitled Women: Their Lives in Rural Nova Scotia, 1950. Launched in Digby in October 2011, it travelled to various locations throughout southwestern Nova Scotia over the following year, including a month's detour to the Nova Scotia Archives in April 2012. 

 

The exhibit celebrated the work of John Collier Jr., an eminent American photographer who spent time in Digby County during 1950 and 1951, and whose photographic record of those years is now among the collections held by the Nova Scotia Archives. 

 

The exhibit is at http://novascotia.ca/archives/virtual/digbywomen/

 

=========================================================================

Need help finding your ELUSIVE Canadian ancestors???

 

As a nod of the hat to the Ontario Genealogical Conference being held in Barrie, Ontario from May 29 to May 31, may we offer a month-long discount on our research and consultation services of 15% (ends 11 June at midnight).

 

Just go to Elizabeth Lapointe Research Services website at www.elrs.biz, or send an email with the subject "special" to genealogyresearch@aol.com to see how I can help you find that elusive Canadian ancestor!

 

Research Tip! The Nova Scotia Archives is a wonderful place to research your ancestors in person. Their latest fonds is the Annapolis Royal Registry of Deeds (1763-1980). It includes 185 land transaction registers (‘deed books’), 1763-1954; deed registry will books, 1878-1867 (kept at the registry); and land grant registration books, 1854-1963. Contct the Nova Scotia Archives at http://novascotia.ca/archives/newholdings.asp
=======================================================================

Check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

 

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/06/canadian-week-in-review-cwr-01-june-2015.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!